Detachable button.



T. E. VAN METRE.

DETACHABLE BUTTON APPLICATION HLED SEPT. 12. 1am

11,235, 1 7 1 Patented July 31, 191?.

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THOMAS E. VAN METRE, OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY.

/ DETACHABLE BUTTON.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 12, 1916. Serial No. 119,701.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, THOMAS E. VAN METRE, a citizen of the United States, stationed at Sag Harbor, in the county of Suffolk and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Detachable Buttons; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appert-ains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to improvements in detachable buttons in which locking arms are provided on the button base to retain the button in the buttonhole; and which arms are relatively movable to bring the same into an overlapping position extending in the same direction when the button is to be removed from the buttonhole.

It is an object of the invention to provide a detachable button of this character, the construction of which will be simple and economical in manufacture, the parts adapted for ready assembly, and the operation thereof in attaching and detaching a button quick and easy.

The improved button and locking pieces forming the present invention unite to provide a unit in which the parts are so assembled and connected as to prevent the same from becoming detached and lost, and such, as when in the attached position, will not be apt to become displaced or arred to unlocking position where the button may be lost.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, and in which similar reference symbols indicate corre sponding parts in the several views:

Figure 1 is a sectional view through an improved button equipped with locking pieces constructed in accordance with the present invention, and shown in unlocking position.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the pieces in looking position.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the button base.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is another sectional view taken on the line 66 in Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the locking pieces; and

Fig. 8 is a similar view of the companion locking piece.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the present improvement consists in three parts, namely, the button base 1, illus trated in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, and the two looking pieces having the arms 2 and 3, respectively, shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

The base 1 is formed with a circular or other-shaped flange 4, over which the head of the button may be secured in any suitable manner. This head is indicated in dotted lines at 5 in Figs. 1, 2 and 8; it being under stood that the same may be made in one piece with the base 1, or manufactured separately and subsequently attached thereto.

A diametrically disposed resilient strap 6 extends across the button base 1, and, as more particularly disclosed in Fig. 6, is struck up and formed with a central ridge 7 and sides 8 and 9 diverging therefrom toward said base. To both sides of the resilient strap 6, the base 1 is slotted as indicated at 10 and 11 in Fig. 4, thereby leaving the strap unsupported along its edges to increase the spring eifect. Recesses 12 and 13 are provided in the base 1 adjacent the slots 10 and 11, such recesses having end walls 14 and 15.

The locking piece shown in Fig. 7 and having the arm 2, is constructed also with a plate 16 at opposite ends of which are oflset flanges 17 and 18 having arcuate edges 19 and 20 conforming substantially to the curvature of the flange 4. The plate 16 is also advantageously of spring metal, so that the same may be sprung into the base 1 in the manner indicated in Fig. 3, with the flanges 17 and 18 extending through the slots 10 and 11 and engaging the interior face of said base plate. In this position the sides of the plate 16 engage and snugly fit against the end walls 14 and 15 of the recesses 12 and 13, in a manner to prevent relative r0- tation of the plate 16 and arm 2 about the base 1.

The arm 2 is supported on the end of an eccentric post 21 bent down from the plate Patented July 31, 1917.

16, which is cut away to both sides thereof, as shown at 22, 23, in Fig. 7. At the base of this eccentric post 21 and substantially centrally of the plate 16, is an opening at providing a bearing for a post 25, which carries the arm 3 of the companion locking piece illustrated more particularly in Fig. 8.

The post 25 carries a head 26 preferably of the configuration shown in the drawings, wherein the same is substantially triangular or arrow shaped in cross section, and designed to fit snugly within the space lying between the plate 26 and resilient strap 6. Compare Figs. 2 and 3.

In assembling the device, the locking piece shown in Fig. 8 is taken and the arm 3 thereof inserted through the opening 21 in the plate 16 of the locking piece shown in Fig. 7 The arm 3 and post 25 are pushed through this opening 2a until arriving in the position shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, where the head 26 will lie fiat against the plate 16.

The two locking pieces being thus assembled, the same are then fitted to the base 1, which is accomplished by forcing together the flanges 17 and 18 of the spring plate 16 until the same are in a position to be inserted through the slots 10 and 11 in the base 1; after which they are allowed to spring apart and assume the position shown in Fig. 3, the flanges 17 and 18 occupying the interior of the base and the edges of the plate 16 being in contact with the end walls 1a and 15 of the recesses 12 and 13 to prevent relative movement between the base and plate. In so connecting the plate 16 with the base 1, it will be seen that the head 26 will be brought to occupy the space formed between the struck-up portion of the resilient strap 6 and said plate, and will be snugly received therein in the manner shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The device is now in readiness for use.

In operation the arms 2 and 3 will first be brought to the position in Fig. 1., which may be done either by rotating the post 25 and arm 3, or by rotating the button together with the plate 16 and arm 2. In this position the arms 2 and 3 overlap and extend in the same direction, so that they may be readily inserted through the buttonhole in a garment in a fashion which will be readily understood from the operation of devices of this character at present well known in this art.

After the arms 2 and 3 have been so in serted in the buttonhole, the device is shifted to the position shown in Fig. 2, which may likewise be accomplished by either rotation of the post 25 and arm 3, as indicated in the drawing, or by holding the arm 3 against rotation and rotating the button together with the plate 16 and arm 2. This latter is the preferable method of operation, and for convenience in achieving this operation the arm 3 is advantageously elongated relatively over the arm 2, so as to extend therebeyond when in the overlapping position, as shown in Fig. 1, and yield a grasp which can be readily located beneath the cloth by the fingers of the operator and held with ease while the button is being rotated. In this way there is an exterior part, namely, the button itself, which forms the rotatable element, and is in plain view of the operator and readily grasped in his fingers. Conse quently there is no necessity for having to rotate the arm 3 about the button as heretofore done, and which has been found both troublesome and inconvenient by reason of the arm being beneath the cloth, and the operator not being able to locate it and having difiiculty in moving it through the clot-h of the garment.

As the parts are moved in accordance with either of the above described manners, the head 26 and strap 6 will be moved relatively, which will have the eifect of prying apart the spring strap 6 and spring plate 16 to permit such rotation, and when brought to either the looking or unlocking position such spring parts will automatically close about said head 26 and form an effective means to prevent accidental movement of the parts and consequent loss of the button.

It is obvious that those skilled in the art may vary the details of construction and arrangements of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention, and therefore I do not wish to be limited to such features except as may be required by the claims.

I claim:

1. Button attaching means comprising a base securely attached to the button, a spring strap on said base; a locking piece comprising a plate fitted in said base, and an arm on said plate; and a second locking piece including a head arranged between said strap and plate. and an arm passing through said plate and connected to said head and adapted to swing relatively to said first-named arm substantially as described. 2. Button attaching means comprising a base securely attached to the button, a spring strap extending across said base and providing a locking socket; a locking piece including a plate fitted in said base, and an arm extending from said plate; and a second locking piece including a locking head fitted in said locking socket and being rotatable relatively to said spring strap and plate, and an arm passing through said plate and connected to said locking head, substantially as described. 3. Button attaching means comprising a base securely attached to the button, a spring strap on said base forming an inverted V- shaped socket; a locking piece including a plate fixed in said head, and an arm extending from said plate; and a second locking piece having an inverted V-shaped head fitted between said spring strap and plate and revoluble therebetween, and. an arm connected to said head, substantially as described.

l. Button attaching means comprising a base securely attached to the button, having slots therein, a spring strap extending across said base and providing a locking socket; a locking piece including a plate, flanges on said plate arranged to enter the slots in said base, and an arm on said plate; and a second locking piece including an arm relatively movable with respect to said firstnamed arm, and a locking head connected to said last-mentioned arm and fitted in said locking socket between said spring strap and plate, substantially as described.

5. Button attaching means comprisin a base securely attached to the button, having slots therein and recesses adjoining said slots; a spring strap in said base having a locking socket therein; a locking piece including a resilient plate, flanges on said plate adapted to enter the slots in said base, the edges of said plate lying against the walls of said recesses, and an arm extending from said plate; and a second locking piece including an arm relatively movable to said first-named arm, and a locking head connected to said arm and occupying said locking socket within said spring strap, substan tially as described.

6. Button attaching means comprising a base securely attached to the button, a spring strap on said base providing a locking socket; a locking piece stationary with said button, an arm on said locking piece; and a second locking piece including a locking head fitted in said locking socket, a post connected to said locking head, and. an arm on said post movable relatively to said but ton, substantially as described.

7. Button attaching means comprising a base securely attached to the button, a spring strap on said base providing a locking socket; a locking piece fitted in said base, an arm extending from said locking piece and being stationary with respect to said button; and a second locking iece including a locking head fitted in sai socket, and an arm connected to said locking head and movable relatively to said button and firstmentioned arm, said last-named arm being elongated over the companion arm to provide a finger grasp permitting the same to be held stationary while the button is rotated to move the other arm relatively whereby to bring said arms into looking or unlocking position, substantially as described.

8. Button attachin means comprising a base securely attache to the button, a spring strap on said base providing a locking socket; a locking piece removably fitted in said base, an arm extending from said lock ing piece and being fixed with respect to said button; and. a second locking piece including a post journaled to rotate relatively in said first locking piece, a locking head on said post fitted in said locking socket, and an arm on said post elongated over said first-named arm to provide a finger grasp for holding said arm stationary while the button and companion arm are rotated to bring said arms into overlapping or divergent position, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I alfix my signature.

THOMAS E. VAN METRE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

